​3 Mustang Upgrade Projects You Can Tackle in a Weekend

Low weight, a big engine bay, rear wheel drive and shared components across several lines make the Mustang an excellent platform for building serious performance. With so many options, it's easy to get carried away with engine builds and custom suspension setups, but that doesn't mean all modifications require weeks of work. These three upgrades are simple enough to tackle over the weekend and can provide major improvements to your car's performance.

Install a Better Intake

A Cold Air Intake replaces the stock airbox with a conical air filter and either a box or deflector that channels in air from the outside, not from the hot engine compartment. Colder air is denser, which means more power. Along with our own CAI's, Anderson also makes Power Pipes which replace the hose going between the air filter and the throttle body with a less restrictive metal pipe. Both modifications are relatively straight forward and only require a few basic hand tools.

Blow-by can let oil seep into the intake via the PCV hose, especially on forced induction engines. Adding a catch can keep this oil from getting all the way to the manifold so it won't mix with the fuel and reduce its octane. Installing one is as simple as mounting the can and routing some new hose between it and the PCV valve.

Underdrive Pulley/Balancer

Accessories require engine power, and they wear out faster if they're constantly run at high speeds. An underdrive pulley is smaller diameter than the stock drive pulley, which means it turns the accessories attached to it slower than normal. While not a great idea if your alternator is powering a big audio system, it can free up some power and take the strain off your accessories when on the track. On some engines, like the 4.6L, the main pulley is also a balancer, absorbing the brunt of the impact from the ignition strokes of the pistons to reduce stress on the crankshaft. An underdrive balancer will maintain this weight while reducing the pulley's drive ratio. New, shorter belts will be needed to maintain the correct tension with the new, smaller pulley.

Installing a new pulley involves removing some parts to access the end of the crankshaft, but with the right tools on hand, this job can take just a couple of hours. Usually, there's enough space to access the pulley without removing the radiator and draining the coolant, but the radiator fan will need to be removed. This job requires common hand tools, plus a torque wrench, a large puller, and for some belt tensioners, a large pry bar.

Add a PMS

A PMS acts as an intermediary between your car's stock ECU and your engine's electronics. Setting one up can get quite advanced once you start adding extra sensors and modifications, but for a basic setup, it's just a matter of mounting the control box and data logger, then plugging everything into the wiring harness.

A little tuning can squeeze more power out of a stock engine, but since a PMS can be reprogrammed endlessly, it can grow with your car, helping you make the most out of each modification. This makes it a great first step for a major build.

Your First Step to Better Performance

Whether you're starting with major modifications or turning your Mustang into a race car, Anderson Ford Motorsport has the parts you need. We don't just sell parts, we develop our own parts and kits in house, and we test what we sell to ensure reliable performance. With over 25 years of experience tuning late model Mustangs, we know what works.